Report by Swasti Sharma
South Korea has launched its first-ever lunar mission which is also its first mission beyond low Earth orbit (a type of orbit relatively closer to the earth.)
The mission is managed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).
The satellite was launched by SpaceX on Thursday.
Earlier, this spacecraft was named Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO). Now it’s known as Danuri, a play on the Korean words for “moon” and “enjoy” ultimately meaning enjoy the moon.
It will reach lunar orbit in December. Its primary goal is to test South Korea’s lunar spacecraft technology. This is South Korea’s second shot at space in six weeks.
Danuri launched using the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 7:08 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) on August 4, with the rocket’s booster landing successfully on the drone ship.
It’s taking a long, roundabout path to conserve fuel.
The spacecraft is now on a very circuitous route to the moon. It will first fly toward the sun before looping back toward its spot. Taking this longer route, known as a ballistic lunar transfer which uses a gravity assist by the sun to make the journey more fuel-efficient.
Danuri is carrying six scientific instruments that will perform research.
The six instruments are:
A magnetometer,
A gamma-ray spectrometer,
An experimental communications system, and
Three cameras, including one designed by NASA that is sensitive enough to see inside the moon’s permanently shadowed craters, which could contain water ice.
Image Credit: SpaceX